Worried About My Firefish

[Kyle]

Ive had him about a week now, he hid the first day which was to be expected but then he came out and swam around even ate twice when I fed him. Then he scared me today when I looked for him and couldnt find him. After looking for 10 minutes I looked in the back of my tank and under my biggest piece of LR I saw his head, he had dug under the LR and made a little cave. I couldnt even see how he fit there. I got him out, filled it in and checked back later to see he dug another little hole, there are plenty of places and caves I've made but he seems to like his own. I'm worried if he digs to much out the rock might crash down on him :scry: on a good note I love my peppermint shrimp, every piece of food my Firefish doesnt get he jumps right on and is keeping the bottom clean thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

He wants to decorate his own house. And he wants nice, tight spaces that are only large enough for him. Your caves are most likely too roomy for him.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

That is typical Firefish behavior. No matter how many little burrows you fill in, they will always dig a new one. Mine has one right in the front of my tank. Poor thing actually got stuck in it as the flow in the tank pushed some sand in front of the opening. LOL Nothing to worry about though, they love the burrows.

[travie]

I'm worried if he digs to much out the rock might crash down on him :scry:

Just ensure that there can't be any rock slides by stablize all the rock, then let the firefish dig as many burrows as it would like.

[Kyle]

I cant ensure that, I have 3 big pieces of rock on there. I just turned the light on and he was swimming in the back of the tank but hes swimming kind of sideways it dosnt look good :scry: His body is angled sideways like hes having trouble staying straight up

[travie]

Reef epoxy or reef glue could do the trick.

[AABatteries]

I cant ensure that, I have 3 big pieces of rock on there. I just turned the light on and he was swimming in the back of the tank but hes swimming kind of sideways it dosnt look good :scry: His body is angled sideways like hes having trouble staying straight up

Any chance that the rock fell om him? Also, I've read that firefish will have a burrow they will go in if they feel threatened.

[Kyle]

Well I fed him some mysis and he went nuts and was swimming around just fine so Idk. Also got him a little friend since I went to the LFS to return one of my 2 peppermints that passed and got a really tiny O clown and they have been hanging out together for the past few hours

[AABatteries]

You know you're going to need a bigger tank for the clown. They CAN live in a 10g, but should be in at least a 20g.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

For a single Ocellaris clown a 10gal will be sufficient, but you are right a 20gal would be better.

[Kyle]

Hes barley an inch long now he'll be alright for a little bit, my last pair I had for over 6 months and they were about 1-1/4" when I got them and in 6 months they were maybe 1-1/2"

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Bowler, that's testimony to the fact that a pair of Clowns should not be kept in a 10gal tank. One of those 2 clowns should have grown significantly more than that. I have a pair of Ocellaris in my tank and when I first got them they were both about 1-1/4" and in a matter of 6 months, the male was 1-1/2" and the female was easily 2" long. The fact that you only had the 6 months isn't great either.

[Kyle]

Well the real fact is the pair of clowns I had were kept in my 55 gallon, fact they didnt die I gave them to another guy when I just tore down my 55 gallon. I know a pair should not be kept in a 10 gallon, but still in my 55 gallon they didnt grow that big, and I fed them mysis, brine, formula one marine pellets and flakes thanks

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Sorry, that wasn't clear from what you had said. They still should have grown more.